Landmark park: Northeast upgrades will turn site into amusement destination

Tuesday

Apr 16, 2013 at 12:01 AMApr 16, 2013 at 7:11 PM

Molly McGowan / Times-News

GIBSONVILLE — Northeast Park is gearing up for what should be its biggest summer yet.

The 374-acre park already boasts two regulation soccer fields, two youth baseball fields, two disc golf courses, a pool with a splash area, a couple playground sets, a kayak-friendly creek and 14 miles of trails.

But by Memorial Day, the park’s family entertainment shifts to a whole new level.

Just under half a mile of railroad track is being laid for the halfscale 1863 C.P. Huntington train engine and passenger coaches, custom built for the park by California-based Katiland Trains. A 28-foot carousel has been installed, and an 18-hole miniature golf course will be ready by the last weekend in May.

“We’re trying to make that a big, big weekend,” said Mike Magnes, Northeast Park events planner.

An additional 35 parking spaces, 4,800-square-foot playground, grass volleyball court and horseshoe pit will also be added by then.

As part of the third phase in the park’s master plan, Northeast Park will also be building basketball and tennis courts, and an 18-hole disc golf championship course by the end of July, said Thomas Marshburn, Guilford County Parks operations manager.

He said the park is working with Innova Disc Golf to build the course. “Then we can host championships, and then this can be an all-day destination,” Marshburn said.

The park is well on its way to being such an attraction, with the carousel already installed under a shelter, built by Hodgin Construction Co.

“We actually had to build the shelter first, and then they assembled it underneath,” said Ed Kluttz, project manager with the construction company.

Hodgin Construction is working side-by-side with Katiland Trains’ father-and-sons team to lay the track, which makes two loops in “a stretched-out figure eight,” said Dino Marquez. He and his sons, Jesse and Dean Jr., built the halfscale replica of a C.P. Huntington and were out Tuesday afternoon, laying the track.

“It was a workhorse,” Marquez said of the original C.P. Huntington train engine. Kluttz said it was the original type of engine shipped around Cape Horn to start the Transcontinental Railroad from the west end.

With a mauve smokestack, cobalt blue engine, bright red wheels and brass bell and whistle, the park’s train is “made to look like a real steam train, but (is) gas-powered,” Marquez said. “People come from all over the county to see these trains.”

The carousel — with a metallic dragon, antlered deer and a tiger among the menagerie — is a 1998 Chance Rides model, previously housed in a Texas mall and since refurbished. Marshburn said a brand new carousel would have cost close to $400,000, but the park’s new addition was only $140,000.

The park’s revamp will cost about $1 million, he said. However, the train and carousel were approved by Guilford County commissioners three years ago, and funding for the park’s makeover was secured before then.

“This stuff was voted on by bond referendum,” Marshburn said. “Then we got PARTF grants to offset (the rest).”

He said the 2004 bond referendum allowed the Northeast Park to begin financing the carousel and train, and along the way, it was granted monies through the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund — which provide a 50/50 match to the bond money paying for the tennis and basketball courts, playground, parking, disc golf course and new playground.

“It’s a fun project. I think it’ll make a landmark out here,” Kluttz said.

“Hopefully it’s going to be one of the elite parks out here,” said Marshburn. “That’s what we’re shooting for.”

The carousel and the train are both wheelchair-accessible, and will cost $1 per person to ride. The miniature golf course will cost $2 per person. All three amusements will be open by Memorial Day. Check out Northeast Park’s website at northeast.guilfordparks.com for more information.